Read Online Chasing Shadows by Ashley Townsend - Free Book Online
Authors: Ashley Townsend
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As if just thinking about her could cause her to appear, the youngest Jones walked through the doorway from the kitchen and stepped into the main room. She started when she looked up and saw them standing before her, then her expression of surprise turned to one of delight as she ran to embrace her. Sarah laughed and wrapped her arms around the girl in a tight hug. Leah pulled back and did an excited dance in place that was entirely reminiscent of Lilly’s earlier jig.
“Mama will be so happy,” Leah said, her copper curls bouncing as she talked. “Karen said that she might bring you to dinner tonight, and I have just been beside myself. We don’t have nearly enough girls around here, but with you around, Seth and Josh will be outnumbered when it comes to choosing games, so long as Mama is on our side.”
Sarah laughed at the girl’s rapid talk. She had forgotten how animated Leah could be and suddenly realized just how much she had missed her. Though she was taller, the girl reminded Sarah so much of Lilly that her fondness only grew for her.
The front door opened behind them, and Sarah turned around to see the men enter. Seth strode in first and paused in the doorway, looking eagerly around the room before his eyes caught hers. She smiled hesitantly. Before she left, they had clearly laid out their feelings for each other, deciding there would be no secrets between them. And though Seth’s romantic feelings did not mirror hers, he had respected her wish that they remain friends and nothing more. But Sarah still felt strange around him with the knowledge of how he felt for her, and at the time she had been too embarrassed about his feelings to even tell Karen—a secret she was now glad she’d kept.
But maybe he doesn’t feel that way anymore, she thought hopefully. She would never betray Karen like that and prayed Seth wouldn’t, either.
Joshua elbowed his brother in the side good naturedly to get him to move out of the doorway. He grinned at Sarah.
“Welcome back,” he said. “Mother and Leah have been beside themselves—”
“I already told her that,” Leah interjected, looking pleased to be the first one to deliver the news to Sarah.
Mr. Jones appeared behind his sons, his tall frame filling the doorway. He placed a hand on either of their shoulders and urged them forward slightly so he could close the door. He turned around, his expression stern.
“It seems that you have caused quite a bit of chaos in this house once again, Miss Matthews.” Sarah would have taken offense at his words if she hadn’t seen the sparkle of good humor in the gentle giant’s eyes.
She managed to keep a straight face and nodded her head once. “I’ll try to keep from doing it again, sir.”
He laughed at that, a deep, joyful sound that came from deep inside his chest. “Well, now that I have your word on it, we must go in and eat. I’m half-starved from fighting against this winter.”
The large group entered the kitchen. Sarah came in last and saw the small, round woman bustling about the room, grinning as she waited for the older woman to spot her. When she glanced up from her work, Ruth Jones’ flushed face lit up with joy. Without a word, she walked over to Sarah and wrapped her in a smothering hug. She held Sarah’s arms and took a step back, her smile huge. Motherly affection glowed in her eyes, and Sarah felt her throat clog with emotion.
“Welcome back, dear,” Mrs. Jones said quietly.
Sarah just smiled, not trusting her voice. The older woman seemed to sense her struggle with the emotional reunion and motioned for everyone to sit.
“Now that we’re all here, let’s eat.”
~Chapter 7~
Sarah stared up at the rafters, her arms pillowed behind her head. It was completely dark in the still barn, not that she could have focused, anyway—she could hardly see past the images that occupied her mind and kept her from falling asleep.
She thought about how
As if just thinking about her could cause her to appear, the youngest Jones walked through the doorway from the kitchen and stepped into the main room. She started when she looked up and saw them standing before her, then her expression of surprise turned to one of delight as she ran to embrace her. Sarah laughed and wrapped her arms around the girl in a tight hug. Leah pulled back and did an excited dance in place that was entirely reminiscent of Lilly’s earlier jig.
“Mama will be so happy,” Leah said, her copper curls bouncing as she talked. “Karen said that she might bring you to dinner tonight, and I have just been beside myself. We don’t have nearly enough girls around here, but with you around, Seth and Josh will be outnumbered when it comes to choosing games, so long as Mama is on our side.”
Sarah laughed at the girl’s rapid talk. She had forgotten how animated Leah could be and suddenly realized just how much she had missed her. Though she was taller, the girl reminded Sarah so much of Lilly that her fondness only grew for her.
The front door opened behind them, and Sarah turned around to see the men enter. Seth strode in first and paused in the doorway, looking eagerly around the room before his eyes caught hers. She smiled hesitantly. Before she left, they had clearly laid out their feelings for each other, deciding there would be no secrets between them. And though Seth’s romantic feelings did not mirror hers, he had respected her wish that they remain friends and nothing more. But Sarah still felt strange around him with the knowledge of how he felt for her, and at the time she had been too embarrassed about his feelings to even tell Karen—a secret she was now glad she’d kept.
But maybe he doesn’t feel that way anymore, she thought hopefully. She would never betray Karen like that and prayed Seth wouldn’t, either.
Joshua elbowed his brother in the side good naturedly to get him to move out of the doorway. He grinned at Sarah.
“Welcome back,” he said. “Mother and Leah have been beside themselves—”
“I already told her that,” Leah interjected, looking pleased to be the first one to deliver the news to Sarah.
Mr. Jones appeared behind his sons, his tall frame filling the doorway. He placed a hand on either of their shoulders and urged them forward slightly so he could close the door. He turned around, his expression stern.
“It seems that you have caused quite a bit of chaos in this house once again, Miss Matthews.” Sarah would have taken offense at his words if she hadn’t seen the sparkle of good humor in the gentle giant’s eyes.
She managed to keep a straight face and nodded her head once. “I’ll try to keep from doing it again, sir.”
He laughed at that, a deep, joyful sound that came from deep inside his chest. “Well, now that I have your word on it, we must go in and eat. I’m half-starved from fighting against this winter.”
The large group entered the kitchen. Sarah came in last and saw the small, round woman bustling about the room, grinning as she waited for the older woman to spot her. When she glanced up from her work, Ruth Jones’ flushed face lit up with joy. Without a word, she walked over to Sarah and wrapped her in a smothering hug. She held Sarah’s arms and took a step back, her smile huge. Motherly affection glowed in her eyes, and Sarah felt her throat clog with emotion.
“Welcome back, dear,” Mrs. Jones said quietly.
Sarah just smiled, not trusting her voice. The older woman seemed to sense her struggle with the emotional reunion and motioned for everyone to sit.
“Now that we’re all here, let’s eat.”
~Chapter 7~
Sarah stared up at the rafters, her arms pillowed behind her head. It was completely dark in the still barn, not that she could have focused, anyway—she could hardly see past the images that occupied her mind and kept her from falling asleep.
She thought about how
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